Tajul out, Aminul in as ICT Chief Prosecutor

Staff Reporter :

The government has removed Mohammad Tajul Islam from his position as chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and appointed Advocate Md Aminul Islam in his place.

The announcement was made in a notification signed by Md Manjurul Hossain, solicitor
of the Ministry of Law.

According to the notification, under Section 7 of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 (Act No. XIX of 1973), Md Aminul Islam has been appointed as chief prosecutor of the tribunal, with all associated rank, salary, allowances, and benefits, to oversee ICT cases until further orders.

At the same time, the earlier appointment order of Mohammad Tajul Islam, son of Mohammad Fazlul Haque Khan, issued on Sept. 8, 2024, under Memo No. 02/Sol.:/GP-PP/ATRA:/2024 (Part-1)-117, has been canceled.

Tajul Islam had been appointed chief prosecutor of the ICT on September 8, 2024, following the ouster of the Awami League government in the 2024 July movement.

Tajul Islam has said his removal from the position of chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal is normal.

It is only natural that an elected government would appoint individuals of its choice to key state positions, he told reporters on the tribunal premises today (23 February).

“I welcome the new chief prosecutor. I wish him success in carrying forward the unfinished tasks,” he said.

Tajul, who had held the post for around 18 months, said he was experiencing a “bittersweet” feeling.

Asked whether he saw the decision coming, Tajul said the government had initially indicated that it would not replace him.

“However, yesterday I was informed that the government wanted to appoint someone else.

I asked if I should resign, but was told it was not necessary, as I would be replaced through a normal process. Submitting a resignation might have created a different impression,” he said.